Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed
And the battle goes on. I feel like I felt following the re-launch of The Wild Side. Nothing could have prepared me for the epic effort it took, and the new land it opened up.
And again, now three years further on, nothing could have prepared me for the changes caused by the seismic ripples still going out beneath the surface. The people who ask for help or encouragement. The people who come with their love and support. The new opportunities and platforms. The proposed residential healing and recovery centre preparations. The new wildsidepublishing.com website. And in and through it all I have felt the pressure and pain of new levels and new devils. The fear, the faith. And now, O me of little faith, is now well out of the waka (boat) and walking on water. I don’t know how, but it’s happening, so the only thing to do now is to not look down but look up to where my help comes from — like my life depends on it. To the author and finisher of my faith.
Sometimes I find myself dreaming of a simple life, regular income, regular problems. Problems I can handle without God, like I used to. But then I feel Holy Spirit smiling. “C’mon! You were born for more! Time is short! Let’s get on with it. You’re not alone. They’re MY problems anyway, because I care for you.”
Yes, you were born for more. Yes, you!
Fear or faith? Choose one. Exist, or make history? Choose one. A cruise ship or a battleship… choose one. Choose the battleship, because like it or not, you’re in a battle, so you might as well be equipped and surrounded by people of war who can help you. A brother was born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17). You know who you are. Give me a battleship any day. Feeling a little battle-weary today? We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
“We’re paratroopers, Lieutenant. We’re supposed to be surrounded,” (Major Dick Winters, Band of Brothers)
Reflecting on 28+ years free from alcohol, 22+ years free from meth, marijuana and nicotine, the weapons that won this war with addiction were simple. Conform no longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). Chop the giant’s head off with his own sword, and don’t go back to resurrect him. Move on to the next one. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). We have to go back to go forward and get inner healing for the trauma in our wounded souls, then the addictions take care of themselves. The need to medicate pain is no longer driving behaviour.
People want to know the keys that will help them walk in victory over addiction and dysfunctional behaviours. Not so many like the answer. Some do. Some carry on their way, looking for the wider path. There is a way that seems right to man but leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). You can give up drugs and alcohol without God. Sure, you can. But what is the point of cleaning up your life with mindfulness, tikanga, yoga or anything and everything… to then die and go to hell for all eternity? What is it to gain the whole world, yet lose your soul? (Mark 8:36). Last time I checked, the only thing that gets rid of demons is Jesus Christ. Last time I checked, the only way to the Father, is through the Son. The only way.
OK hang on, that’s not cool. No. It’s not PC. But it’s true. And you will know a tree by its fruit.
“I died to the world on Christ’s cross, and the world died to me. Without Him, I’m still dead in my sin,” Sevin, hogmob.com.
There’s a lot riding on the path we take and the choices we make. It’s not about us. There are generational lines in the balance, destinies affected by the choices we make today. Destinies that are affected by what we are doing when no one is looking. Today is the day to make the change. To be diligent in the small things. To have integrity, purity, humility. To surrender our lives to the One who bought them for the highest price.
“If you love Me, obey Me” (John 14:15-17 TLB). And in that simple command, there is safety, healing and destiny, and everything else takes care of itself.
But no matter how right I walk or how much good work I do in His name, I’m saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The longest journey begins with a single step… “God, show me You are real.”
Peace out
J xox
Visit janetbalcombe.com to learn more about my books, blogs or to connect with me.
Other sites to visit and see what I’m up to are: wildsidetrust.org, wildsideministries.com and wildsidedesign.net
